AMANDA WHELAN
portfolio
Unique Clay Pot Sculpting and Bronze Casting
After acquiring a job in C.A.S.T. bronze foundry in Dublin, I was given the opportunity to cast my own bronze pot. Using lost-wax casting I personally cast a clay pot I had sculpted for a course project. I also learned sandcasting whilst working at C.A.S.T. It was a fantastic experience and lead to the pot being commissioned by a private buyer.
Originally sculpted in clay. The pot was part of a project themed around bolts and bolt threads resulting in the bronze tipped organic thread weaving up the pot.
The shape accidentally, somewhat reflects the shape of a human heart which I feel represents the heart and soul which were used to create it.
The patina expert at C.A.S.T. did an amazing job finishing the pot with this beautiful mottled black and green patina finish, whilst I put the final finish of sanding away the patina on the tip of the screw thread.
Craftmaking with Shane Holland Design
During my time at Shane Holland Design, I explored the art of working with my hands using a variety of materials. Products included presentation awards, lighting and furniture. Learning how to work the materials effectively and finding solutions to the quality execution of the products whilst working to strict deadlines made it a challenging, but very rewarding position to work in.
These beautifully simple mirrors taught me the challenges of handmaking mitred frames. They really tested my skills and patience and improved my making skills.
With various easily scratched materials being used in this design, as makers we needed to be extremely careful during production.
An image of me putting some final touches to folder security cases being delivered the following day.
Precision drilling of holes was required here both for the perspex base and the scales themselves which required perfect making skills.
An important lesson was learnt when making these lights, that some plastics are badly affected by certain types of glue and can cause disastrous results. We learned to test glues on materials here.
All items are hand measured, marked and worked requiring precision attention to detail.
Pure bronze, the shark was cast elsewhere and finished at the workshop. Some sharks were coated in a very fine white or rose gold layer giving a different colour finish which made polishing a delicate operation.
These delicate awards required fine polishing with accuracy so as not to remove the silver plated finish.
Hollowed bronze, acrylic and brass, these awards used a variety of finishes including flame polishing of the acrylic. Practicing was required to perfect this skill.
Aluminium, brass and silver were used in this award. With such symmetrical detailing, precision measuring was necessary.
The work at Shane Holland's was always interesting with different materials being used for a variety of awards. The properties of each material needed to be learned and carefully worked.
A successful mesh of bronze, silver, brass and acrylic made for a delicate yet strong spiral piece.
These stunning awards used brass, silver and rose gold dipped 'heads' on a stainless steel base and narrow pillar giving effective 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards.
Another beautiful award successfully using a variety of materials and finishes.
An elegant award, requiring care when polishing the brass edging so as not to affect the sharp edges.